Rethinking Humanitarianism Podcast
1) The aid sector's techno-colonialism problem | Rethinking Humanitarianism
AI and new tech in crises: When is technology a force for good, and when are we piling on the problems in humanitarian response? In this episode, experts unpack why technology is never neutral, the fa...Show More
2) Burnout in the aid sector and how to respond | Rethinking Humanitarianism
Humanitarians have a "burnout culture", experts say. They work long hours in difficult environments. They're trying to help people in the worst moments of their lives. In the middle of today's funding...Show More
3) Don't forget about the Rohingya | Rethinking Humanitarianism
Myanmar's persecuted Rohingya community are waiting for justice. A landmark genocide case at the International Court of Justice is a major step. In this episode, Noor Azizah, a survivor who heads a Ro...Show More
4) What's happening in Iran? The wider context | Rethinking Humanitarianism
Protests have spread across Iran, and the fallout is rapidly evolving. In this episode, Hamid Dabashi, Iranian-American author and professor of Iranian studies and comparative literature at Columbia U...Show More
5) What we've learned so far: Key takeaways for 2026 | Rethinking Humanitarianism
The crisis of illiberalism. The global gender backlash. Aid blind spots. Gaza and the failure of international law. Our guests have taken on difficult topics, but they've also come up with ideas on ho...Show More
6) No one wants to depend on aid, including refugees | Power Shift (REPLAY)
The UN has a new refugee chief: Barham Salih is the former president of Iraq. He takes over as high commissioner for refugees in January 2026. Salih may be a surprise pick. The head of UNHCR, the UN's...Show More
No one wants to depend on aid, including refugees | Power Shift (REPLAY)
1:04:54 | Dec 25th, 2025
7) International law is failing us. What now? | Rethinking Humanitarianism
When countries can commit genocide or invade neighbours with few repercussions, it's clear that international norms and laws are not working. On the podcast, three legal experts discuss the problems a...Show More
8) Who wants to be the new UN refugee chief | Rethinking Humanitarianism
The UN's high commissioner for refugees, Filippo Grandi, finishes his term at the end of the year. As with most top UN roles, picking the next UN refugee chief is far from transparent. What's differen...Show More
9) Security Council backs Trump's Gaza plan. What could go wrong? | Rethinking Humanitarianism
The UN Security Council has passed a resolution backing US President Donald Trump's peace plan for Gaza. It authorises an "international stabilisation force", and approves a "board of peace". Essentia...Show More
10) Why emergency education saves lives | Rethinking Humanitarianism
When aid funding is tight, education is often cut first. But schools offer more than just learning, and communities say education is their priority. "We have to believe that survival means more than j...Show More